Patriots have a lot of new faces along the IOL. If Heyward, Mac, and Tuitt can get some leverage there, maybe we can have Shaz and Timmons blitz the middle. Not expecting much from the OLBs except when 92 is in.

Patriots also have a band of no-names in the talent positions on offense, aside from Gronk and Edelman. But unless the D can get to Brady and find ways to figure out zone coverage with the safeties, might not matter.

I'm haunted by how tepid our O looked in the playoffs without Bell. No big-play Bryant. But Patriots D isn't exactly the Ravens D, and D. Williams > B. Tate. Going to need a solid game from AB (obv.), Heat, and Wheaton. Going to need to slap, IMO, 30 on the board.

Who I'm hoping shows up big: Tuitt and Shazier.

Unexpected windfall: deep kickoffs from Scooby.

What I'm afraid of: no pressure on Brady, high completion %, complete anarchy CBs passing coverage to the Ss.

Wasn't Ferrrrrrrrrrrrnando released? Don't understand why they didn't kick the tires on that option. He was a solid stand in couple years ago when Pouncey went down; prob has a decent rapport with Ben et al.

What idiots in the secondary. Gronkowski has two feet to go before the white of the back EZ OoB. Mike Mitchell or Will Allen need to get their head around. YOU HAVE THE OoB AS THE "EXTRA" DEFENDER. Gronkowski has a very small window to catch in that position. Neither turned their heads and another TD for Gronkowski. Not sure what Butler and company did in the offseason.

Butler has glued every defender's head straight forward. If Gronkowski is heading to the back or side of the EZ, turn your head because the ball is coming. As I said earlier, it is essentially like having an extra defender.

Good to be back...... As for the game, that was a classic Pitt/NE script. Bad clock management , kicking FG's on the road( and not even making them), getting close in the late 3rd/early 4th quarter only to have NE extend their lead, and picking up garbage yards and points. I was not surprised at all.

The offense looks to be awesome between the 20's again this year, but the same old RZ deficiencies are still there. On the plus side, DeAngelo looks like a great pickup.

Overall, this loss won't decide the Steelers season. It's a tough schedule, but barring injury to Ben, Bell, or Brown, I think they can put out a 10 win season.